Folding table



' W. T. BRAXTON.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 26.1919.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

W. T. BRAXTON.

FOLDING TABLE.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 26,1919.

Patented Mar. 23,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM T. BRAX'ION, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING TABLE.

Application filed July 26, 1919.

To aZZ whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM T. BRAK- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Ph ladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Tables, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved table which can be used with great convenience in restaurants, dining rooms or the like for supporting waiters trays or dishes as they are removed from the table, and when not desired for use can be quickly folded so as to occupy but little space and can he stood against a wall so as to be out of the way.

Another object is to make my invention of a simple and durable construction and so that it will support a comparatively great weight.

These objects, and other advantageous .ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved table showing the same in an operative position ready for use,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of Fig. 1,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved table in its folded position,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation taken on the line 5 5 of Fi 2, and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section taken on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1 and also showing in dot-and-dash. lines the position of an auxiliary leg when the table is folded as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, 7 and 8 are front legs which are connected to two top beams 9 and 10 which are arranged in substantially horizontal positions and are connected to the tops of the rear legs 11 and 12 by pivots 13. These legs cross each other and are pivotally connected at thelr polnts of crossing by a pivot bolt or pm 1 1. A central beam 15 has its rear end supported on the pivot bolt 11 and extends forwardly and is provided with an auxihary leg 16 adjacent its front end; said central beam being positioned at a level between the beams 9 and 10 and the bottoms of the legs.

Two leaves 17 and 18 are pivotally connected to the central beam 15 by means of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1920.

Serial No. 313,610. I

a hinge 19 at the rear end and pivot pins 20 at the forward ends, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. The front legs 7 and 8 have lugs 21 projecting from their inner surfaces and these lugs form supports for the leaves 17 and 18 adjacent their free ends so that the leaves 17 and 18 are supported with their top surfaces in a plane with the top surface of the central beam 15.

By constructing my invention as above described a tray or table top as indicated at 22 in Fig. 1 can be placed upon the top beams 9 and 10* and by having the front legs 7 and 8 extending vertically it is easy to place dishes or other articles upon the leaves 17 and 18 and beam 15 since a free open space is provided between the front legs 7 and 8 so as not to interfere with the placing or removal of articles upon or from said leaves. At the same time the crossed rear legs 11 and 12 provide a rigid and firm support and in addition they provide a bearing or mounting for the rear end of the central beam 15 which is connected to the leaves 17 and 18. The auxiliary leg 16 has its bottom bifurcated and an extension 28 is pivoted between the fnrcations, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. The end 2 1 of the extension 23 is beveled and adapted to engage the beveled surface 25 on the auxiliary leg 16, and the exten sion :23 is of such length that when swung into the position shown in full lines in Fig. a and in dot-anddash lines in Fig. 6 that it will project below the bottom 96 of the auxiliary leg 16. The beveled portions 2-1 and 25 limit the swinging movement ofthe extension 23 in one direction, and a hoot; 9.7 is provided on the leg 16 so as to span the parting between the furcations thereof after the extension has been swung into its lowermost position, and an eyelet 28 pro vided for engagement with the hook 27 so as to lock the extension 23 against swinging movement in an opposite direction. This extension 23 provides an auxiliary support when the table is in its folded position' as shown in Fig. 4%, since it will be noted that by the construction as above described that the legs 11 and 12, due to their crossing, are of greater length than the front legs '3. and 8 so that when the table is folded and the legs 11 and 12 swing on the pivot bolt 11, the lower ends of the front legs 7 and 8 necessarily are moved above the lower ends of the legs 11 and 1-2 and in order to provide a support other than the legs 11 and l2,'when the table is in its folded position, the extension 23 is provided.

The extension 23 can be held in an inoperative position, when the table is in use, by means of a hook 29 on the leg 16, said hook being adapted to engage an eyelet 30 on the extension 23, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 6. Thus the extension can be held out of the Way.

It will be noted that, as shown in Fig. 41-, the leaves 17 and 18 can be swung up- Wardly between the front and rear legs and the parts can be pushed together so as to occupy but little storage space.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be .changed ,without departing from the spirit thereof, and hence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims. 5,

Having thus described my inven ion, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connected together at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs spaced apart; substantially horizontal beams pivotally connecting said rear legs with said front legs; and supporting means connected to and extending forwardly from said rear legs and having portions supported by said front legs, said supporting means being spaced below said first beams; substantially as described.

' 2. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connected together at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs spaced apart; substantially horizontal beams pivotally connecting saic. rear legs with said front legs; a central beam extending forward from said crossed legs; and leaves pivoted to said central beam and supported adjacent their free ends by said front legs; substantially as described.

3. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connectedtogether at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs;

beams pivotally connecting said rear legs with said front legs; a central beam; means connecting said central beam to said crossed legs; leaves pivoted to said central beam and supported adjacent their free ends by said front legs; and an auxiliary leg on said central beam and having an extension movable into a position to form an auxiliary support when the table is folded; substantially as described.

l. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connected together at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs; beams pivotally connecting said rear legs with said front legs; a central beam; means connecting'said central beam to said crossed legs; leaves pivoted to said central beam and supported adjacent their free ends by said front legs; an auxiliary bifurcated leg on said central beam; an extension pivotally connected between the fureations of said auxiliary leg; and means for retaining the extension in a position between said fnreations in its free portion projecting beyond the bottom of said auxiliary leg; substantially as described.

5. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connected together at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs spaced apart; substantially horizontal beams pivotally connecting said rear legs with said front legs; and supporting means con nected to and extending forwardly from said rear legs, said means including a table leaf extending laterally from the point of crossing of said rear legs; substantially as described.

6. A table including crossed rear legs pivotally connected together at their point of crossing; substantially upright front legs spaced apart; substantially horizontal beams pivotally connecting said rear 1 with said front legs; a central beam ex ending forwardly from said crossed legs; and leaves pivotally connected to said central balm; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. BRAXITON.

Witnesses ANNA BENTON, OI-IAs. E. Porrs. 

